Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3

Hamlet
Act I, Scene 3

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A room in Polonius' house.
Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA

LAERTES
My necessaries are embark'd: farewell:
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,

Meanwhile, over at Polonius’ house... It is the same day, and Laertes, the young college student, is all packed and ready to return to school in France. He is saying his “goodbyes” to his sister, a girl by the name of Ophelia. Remember that name: Ophelia. We are about to find out that Ophelia is Hamlet’s girlfriend.

But let me hear from you.

OPHELIA
Do you doubt that?

Laertes asks Ophelia to be sure to write.

LAERTES
For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour ,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Ophelia, it seems, has been “seeing” young Prince Hamlet.
Laertes advises Ophelia to treat Hamlet’s love as a “trifling of his favor,” and a “fashion and a toy” (lines 6-7).

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.

OPHELIA
No more but so?

LAERTES
Think it no more;
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will: but you must fear,
His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;

He says that Hamlet’s affections are “sweet, not lasting.” In other words, he is telling his sister not to allow things to get too serious with this guy.

For he himself is subject to his birth:
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends
The safety and health of this whole state ;
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place
May give his saying deed; which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
"For he himself is subject to his birth," says Laertes. Laertes reminds Ophelia that Hamlet is a Prince, and that he may be forced to choose a wife who has some royal blood, regardless of who he might actually love.
That, of course, leaves Ophelia out. Her blood is quite common. She is a type A.

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster'd importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon:
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:
The canker galls the infants of the spring ,
Laertes finally becomes quite blunt, and suggests that she should remain “chaste.” In other words, “do not lose your virginity to this Hamlet guy.”

Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

OPHELIA
Laertes does not want Ophelia's buttons to be disclosed. Modestly, she covers them up.

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep ,
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Ophelia answers that she will “the effect of this good lesson keep.” Hmmm... is she saying she will obey the “effect” of the lesson, but not the lesson itself?

Whiles , like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
Next, Ophelia turns the tables on her brother, and says that she hopes that he is taking his own advice. She hopes that Laertes is not engaged in some “dalliance” himself (line 53). (Kiddies: “dalliance” is another word for a brief affair.)

And recks not his own rede.

LAERTES
O, fear me not.
I stay too long: but here my father comes.

She is worried that Laertes is going to "reck" his own "rede."

Enter POLONIUS

A double blessing is a double grace,
Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

Finally, after all of this brother-sister talk of sex and such, the door opens, and Polonius walks in.

LORD POLONIUS
Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame !
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee! Polonius scolds Laertes for still being here. “The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, and you are stayed for” (lines 60-61). In other words, “Forsooth! Get a move on, son!” He tells Laertes to hurry up and leave.

And these few precepts in thy memory
See thou character . Then, however, he will not let the poor kid go. Instead Polonius gives his son a few "precepts" of fatherly advice.

Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
He tells him to keep his thoughts to himself, and not to act on them. Laertes tries to leave.

Be thou familiar , but by no means vulgar .
Polonius tells him to be “familiar,” but by no means vulgar. Laertes tries to leave.

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel , but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Polonius tells him to be slow in choosing his friends. Laertes tries to leave.

Give every man thy ear , but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure , but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express 'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy ;
This sort of nonsense continues for about fifteen more lines.

For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that. "Apparel" means "clothes." "Clothes make the man." Polonius is giving his son fashion advice.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend ,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry .
I think I smell a famous line coming on...

This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!

LAERTES

Polonius refers to his book of dusty old cliches, and finds another one.

Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.

LORD POLONIUS
The time invites you; go; your servants tend .

LAERTES

Finally, Polonius shuts up, and Laertes bolts from the room. Obviously, Polonius likes to give advice. At the very least, he likes to hear himself talk.

Farewell, Ophelia; and remember well
What I have said to you.

OPHELIA

As Laertes finally leaves, he reminds Ophelia to remember his advice.

'Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

LAERTES
Farewell.
Exit

LORD POLONIUS
What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you?

OPHELIA

Ophelia promises that she will keep his words to herself. She crosses her heart, and hopes to die.

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.

LORD POLONIUS
Marry, well bethought:
'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late
Given private time to you; and you yourself
The instant Laertes is out of the room, Ophelia breaks her promise. Ophelia admits that Laertes and she were discussing young Hamlet, and Polonius has to give his opinion on the young prince.

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous:
If it be so, as so 'tis put on me,
And that in way of caution, I must tell you,
You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behoves my daughter and your honour.
Polonius tells Ophelia that he knows they have been seen together.

What is between you? Give me up the truth.

OPHELIA

He wants to know “what is between” them.

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
Of his affection to me.

LORD POLONIUS

Ophelia explains that Hamlet has offered her some affection.

Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl,
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance .
Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

OPHELIA
I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

LORD POLONIUS
Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby;
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay ,
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly;
Or--not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,
Running it thus--you'll tender me a fool.

OPHELIA
My lord, he hath importuned me with love
In honourable fashion.

LORD POLONIUS
Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to.

OPHELIA
Polonius tells her that she is a “green girl,” and a “baby.” Polonius tells her that Hamlet could not possibly be serious. He begins to give his daughter some advice.

And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord,
With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

LORD POLONIUS
Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter,

Ophelia protests that Hamlet has sworn his love “with almost all of the Holy vows of heaven.”

Giving more light than heat , extinct in both,
Even in their promise, as it is a-making,
You must not take for fire. From this time
Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence ;
Set your entreatments at a higher rate
Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet,
Believe so much in him, that he is young
Polonius dismisses this as empty promises. He warns Ophelia that she “must not” take Hamlet’s promises for “fire.” They will be “extinct,” soon, he says.

And with a larger tether may he walk
Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia,
Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,
Not of that dye which their investments show,
But mere implorators of unholy suits,
Finally, Polonius advises Ophelia to remain a virgin, and he tells her, “Do not believe his vows” (line 134).

Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds,
The better to beguile. This is for all:
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth,
Have you so slander any moment leisure,
Polonius is afraid that Hamlet may be trying to pursue sexual favors from her.

As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to't, I charge you: come your ways.

OPHELIA

He orders her not to give “words or talk” to Hamlet.

I shall obey, my lord.
Exeunt

Ophelia says that she will obey. She exeunts, hoping that Polonius does not follow.

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Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
A room in Polonius' house. Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA LAERTES My necessaries are embark'd: farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,	Meanwhile, over at Polonius’ house... It is the same day, and Laertes, the young college student, is all packed and ready to return to school in France. He is saying his “goodbyes” to his sister, a girl by the name of Ophelia. Remember that name: Ophelia. We are about to find out that Ophelia is Hamlet’s girlfriend.
But let me hear from you. OPHELIA Do you doubt that?	Laertes asks Ophelia to be sure to write.
LAERTES For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour , Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature,	Ophelia, it seems, has been “seeing” young Prince Hamlet. Laertes advises Ophelia to treat Hamlet’s love as a “trifling of his favor,” and a “fashion and a toy” (lines 6-7).
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more. OPHELIA No more but so? LAERTES Think it no more; For nature, crescent, does not grow alone In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes, The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will: but you must fear, His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;	He says that Hamlet’s affections are “sweet, not lasting.” In other words, he is telling his sister not to allow things to get too serious with this guy.
For he himself is subject to his birth: He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself; for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state ; And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed; which is no further Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs,	"For he himself is subject to his birth," says Laertes. Laertes reminds Ophelia that Hamlet is a Prince, and that he may be forced to choose a wife who has some royal blood, regardless of who he might actually love. That, of course, leaves Ophelia out. Her blood is quite common. She is a type A.
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmaster'd importunity. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep you in the rear of your affection, Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask her beauty to the moon: Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes: The canker galls the infants of the spring ,	Laertes finally becomes quite blunt, and suggests that she should remain “chaste.” In other words, “do not lose your virginity to this Hamlet guy.”
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary then; best safety lies in fear: Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. OPHELIA	Laertes does not want Ophelia's buttons to be disclosed. Modestly, she covers them up.
I shall the effect of this good lesson keep , As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;	Ophelia answers that she will “the effect of this good lesson keep.” Hmmm... is she saying she will obey the “effect” of the lesson, but not the lesson itself?
Whiles , like a puff'd and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,	Next, Ophelia turns the tables on her brother, and says that she hopes that he is taking his own advice. She hopes that Laertes is not engaged in some “dalliance” himself (line 53). (Kiddies: “dalliance” is another word for a brief affair.)
And recks not his own rede. LAERTES O, fear me not. I stay too long: but here my father comes.	She is worried that Laertes is going to "reck" his own "rede."
Enter POLONIUS A double blessing is a double grace, Occasion smiles upon a second leave.	Finally, after all of this brother-sister talk of sex and such, the door opens, and Polonius walks in.
LORD POLONIUS Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame ! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee!	Polonius scolds Laertes for still being here. “The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, and you are stayed for” (lines 60-61). In other words, “Forsooth! Get a move on, son!” He tells Laertes to hurry up and leave.
And these few precepts in thy memory See thou character .	Then, however, he will not let the poor kid go. Instead Polonius gives his son a few "precepts" of fatherly advice.
Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act.	He tells him to keep his thoughts to himself, and not to act on them. Laertes tries to leave.
Be thou familiar , but by no means vulgar .	Polonius tells him to be “familiar,” but by no means vulgar. Laertes tries to leave.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel , but being in, Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.	Polonius tells him to be slow in choosing his friends. Laertes tries to leave.
Give every man thy ear , but few thy voice; Take each man's censure , but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express 'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy ;	This sort of nonsense continues for about fifteen more lines.
For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most select and generous chief in that.	"Apparel" means "clothes." "Clothes make the man." Polonius is giving his son fashion advice.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend , And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry .	I think I smell a famous line coming on...
This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! LAERTES	Polonius refers to his book of dusty old cliches, and finds another one.
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. LORD POLONIUS The time invites you; go; your servants tend . LAERTES	Finally, Polonius shuts up, and Laertes bolts from the room. Obviously, Polonius likes to give advice. At the very least, he likes to hear himself talk.
Farewell, Ophelia; and remember well What I have said to you. OPHELIA	As Laertes finally leaves, he reminds Ophelia to remember his advice.
'Tis in my memory lock'd, And you yourself shall keep the key of it. LAERTES Farewell. Exit LORD POLONIUS What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? OPHELIA	Ophelia promises that she will keep his words to herself. She crosses her heart, and hopes to die.
So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. LORD POLONIUS Marry, well bethought: 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself	The instant Laertes is out of the room, Ophelia breaks her promise. Ophelia admits that Laertes and she were discussing young Hamlet, and Polonius has to give his opinion on the young prince.
Have of your audience been most free and bounteous: If it be so, as so 'tis put on me, And that in way of caution, I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly As it behoves my daughter and your honour.	Polonius tells Ophelia that he knows they have been seen together.
What is between you? Give me up the truth. OPHELIA	He wants to know “what is between” them.
He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. LORD POLONIUS	Ophelia explains that Hamlet has offered her some affection.
Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance . Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? OPHELIA I do not know, my lord, what I should think. LORD POLONIUS Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby; That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay , Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or--not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus--you'll tender me a fool. OPHELIA My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honourable fashion. LORD POLONIUS Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. OPHELIA	Polonius tells her that she is a “green girl,” and a “baby.” Polonius tells her that Hamlet could not possibly be serious. He begins to give his daughter some advice.
And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. LORD POLONIUS Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter,	Ophelia protests that Hamlet has sworn his love “with almost all of the Holy vows of heaven.”
Giving more light than heat , extinct in both, Even in their promise, as it is a-making, You must not take for fire. From this time Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence ; Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him, that he is young	Polonius dismisses this as empty promises. He warns Ophelia that she “must not” take Hamlet’s promises for “fire.” They will be “extinct,” soon, he says.
And with a larger tether may he walk Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers, Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorators of unholy suits,	Finally, Polonius advises Ophelia to remain a virgin, and he tells her, “Do not believe his vows” (line 134).
Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, The better to beguile. This is for all: I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment leisure,	Polonius is afraid that Hamlet may be trying to pursue sexual favors from her.
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to't, I charge you: come your ways. OPHELIA	He orders her not to give “words or talk” to Hamlet.
I shall obey, my lord. Exeunt	Ophelia says that she will obey. She exeunts, hoping that Polonius does not follow.